I use two low-cost Remington electric saws for a lot of barn and frame timber work. I have a series of jigs that hold the chainsaw nose in the correct position for cutoffs of 8x8 and 8x12 (and smaller) timbers. I have jigs that guide all the cuts for half-lap cuts in 8by8 inch timbers. I also use a roller-nose gas saw and special guide to plunge-cut the horizontal cut for a center-of-the-beam half-lap. The accuracy is very satisfactory for basic framing that's not also a living-room feature.
And its' fast. And it's, uh.. cheap. An $80 saw at Harbor Freight and homemade jigs = ShoeString Post and Beam (eventually trademark??) :-)
My apologies to the traditionalists, for whom I have great admiration. Works For Me...
